Skeleton Key: Genre Undetermined

The lock opened smoothly beneath he pressure of the key. He smiled. The skeleton key had been one of his best purchases, though he had not realized it at the time. He'd stepped off the train with only a single gold piece in his pocket. He'd planned to purchase clothing more suited to his new life, but when the old woman hobbled up to him, key extended, he'd bought it before he even knew what he was doing. He'd reached into his pocket and handed over the gold coin, taking the plain silver skeleton key from the woman's hand. She'd bit the coin, nodded, and given his a cracked smile before scuttling back into the alley that she came from. As soon as she was gone, of course, he came to his senses. He was penniless in a strange city. He couldn't afford--

Inspiration: Loci. Lock.
Story Potential: High. This could be fun.
Notes: He isn't stealing using the key. That would be too easy, and if he was that sort of person, the key would never have come to him in the first place. He is not pure protag, either--there's a fair share of the unpleasant about him. Not entirely sure what he is doing with the key. Seeing this almost as a Western-fantasy, too...not sure if that's just because it would be easier for me to write. Takes place in an earlier time, definitely.